Police ombudsman upholds complaint against RUC

The North's Police Ombudsman has upheld a complaint against the RUC linked to an attack on a man by officers more than 32 years ago, it was announced today.

Sammy Devenny died three months after the incident in Derry but Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan disclosed that an investigation at the time could neither prove nor disprove the allegation that his death was the result of the attack.

She also announced it would not be possible after all this time to pursue a disciplinary action against the officers involved.

However, the Ombudsman's Office did uphold a complaint by Mr Devenny's family that the RUC never communicated to them directly about the events of that night, April 19 1969, said Mrs O'Loan.

"I am of the view that the then Chief Constable did not deal with the family appropriately," she said.